savage



W. P. SAVAGE.

LOCK.

v APPUCATON HL OCT- |9| |915- L 9%,241 Patented Aug. 8,1916.

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LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 001219. I9I5.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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@Sayq eJ UNITED STATES FATENT FFIQE.

WILLIAM P. SAVAGE, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.

LOCK.

Application led October 19, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. SAVAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locks.

The object of the present invention is to so construct a lock that it will be possible to detect and locate any unauthorized tamper` ing.

A further object is to construct a lock in which one or more numbers are always visible these numbers being automatically changed at each operation of the lock.

A still further object is to provide a lock of simple construction and one that may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

YWith these and other objects in view the invention consists of a plurality of dials provided with numbers on their peripheries, ratchets carried by said dials, pawls for engagement with said ratchets and a sliding spring-actuated bar for operating said pawls.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is an elevation of a lock constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the dials and its pawl and ratchet, Fig. 6 is a similar view of another dial, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing the mounting of the dials.

In practice, the lock is contained within a suitable weather-proof housing 1 as it is primarily intended for use upon freight cars, although it is, of course, adapted for various other uses.

Mounted within the housing is a shaft 2, carrying a plurality of dials 3. These dials are provided upon their peripheries with numbers adapted to be viewed through openings 4, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each dial is preferably provided with a different set of numbers, that is, the numbers on the top dial run from 0 to X while those on the middle dial are from 0 to 9 and on the lower dial from 0 to 8. In this manner, many different combinations of numbers may be made to appear at the openings 4 before any combination is repeated. It is, of course, obvious that other numbers may be substituted for those shown and a wider range of combinations be obtained.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

serial No. 56,673.

The dials are freely maintained upon the shaft, and have formed therewith or connected thereto, ratchet wheels 5, whose teeth correspond in number to the number of digits on the periphery of the dial. It will thus be seen that a movement of one tooth of the ratchet will cause one number to disappear from the opening 4 and the following number to appear. lThe ratchets are operated by means of pawls 6, mounted upon a rod 7, and having springs 8 to keep the pawls in engagement with the ratchets. The rod 7 is mounted in one end in a sliding bar 9, its opposite end having a bearing in a block 10, slidable in a groove 11 in the lock housing.

The bar 9 is provided with a hook portion 11, partially surrounding one end of the shaft 2, and the shaft is provided with a cam 12 adapted to engage the portion 11. The bar has an extension 13 slidable in a bore 14, the opposite end of the bar being slidable in an aperture 15. A collar 16 on the shaft 2 serves as a further support for the bar. In order that the hooked portion 11 may be kept in engagement with the cam 12, a coil spring 17 surrounding the extension 13 bears against this hook and the lock housing.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a partial rotation of the shaft will cause the cam to engage the hook portion of the bar 9, moving it inward and carrying with it the pawls mounted upon the rod 7, said pawls engaging the ratchets and moving each of the dials one digit.

In order that the dials may move just the proper distance spring-pressed pawls 18 mounted in the housing, engage notches 19 in the dials 3, the number of these notches of course corresponding to the number of digits on the dial. In order that one movement of the bar 9 will cause each of the dials to move the proper distance, a proper variation in the diameter of the ratchets must be made. This variation is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, Fig. 5 being a plan view of the center dial and its pawl and ratchet containing ten teeth and consequently ten digits,f

while Fig. 6 is a similar view of the bottom dial containing nine digits and nine teeth.

The rotation of the shaft 2 may be accomplished by any desired means, that shown in the drawing being only one of many. The example illustrated consists simply of a kerf 20 for the reception of a key, a swivel member 21 having a slot 22 adapted to register with the kerf serving to protect said kerfY As before stated one of the principal objects of the invention is to automatically change the combination of numbers appearing before the openings 4C when the lock is locked. In this manner a record can be made of this combination of numbers so that the person next opening the lock can readily tell Whether it has been tampered with. To accomplish this automatic changing, the shackle 23, which is hinged at 2a is provided at its free end with a beveled portion 25 adapted to contact with the end of the bar 9 to force it inward, causing the dials to move the space of one digit as has been previously described. A locking notch Q6 is formed in the shackle above the beveled portion, the bar 9 entering this notch and holding the shackle until released by the key turning the shaft 2. An opening Q7 is provided in the housing for the free end of the shackle.

Suitable means may be provided for assembling the different parts. In the present instance the housing is provided with an opening adapted to be closed with a threaded cap 28.

In its use upon cars, the lock is locked and a record made of the combination of numbers visible through the openings 4l, this record is sent to the cars destination and should a different number appear at any time along its route it will be possible to locate the unauthorized opening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is :w-

l. A lock comprising a casing, a shaft Within said casing, a plurality of dials upon said shaft, a movable rod for actuating said dials, and a spring actuated bar operated by the opening or closing of the lock.

2. A lock comprising a casing, a shaft Within said casing, a plurality of dials upon said shaft, a rod provided with a plurality of ratchet Wheels and dogs for actuating said dials, and a spring actuated bar carrying said rod and means for controlling the movement of said bar by the opening or closing of the lock. Y

3. A lock comprising a casing, a shaft Within said casing, a plurality of dials rotatable upon said shaft, a sliding bar, a rod carried by said bar, ratchet Wheels and paivls carried by said bar, and means for rotating said dials upon the operation of the lock.

4. A lock comprising a casing, a shaft within said casing, a plurality of dials freely mounted upon said shaft, a sliding ar, a; rod carriedby said bar, spring pressed pawls carried by said rod, ratchet Wheels carried by the dials, a cam mounted upon the shaft for engagement With said bar, and means for actuating said bar upon the operation of the lock. v

5. A lock comprising a casing, a shaft Within said casing, a plurality of numbered dials freely mounted upon said shaft, a sliding spring pressed bar, a rod having one end mounted in said bar and itsfopposite end mounted in a. sliding bearing in said casing, spring pressed paivls carried by said rod for engagement with ratchet Wheels carried by the dials, pawls mounted in the casing and engaging said dials, a cam mounted upon the shaft, and means for causing the rotation of the dials upon the operation of the lock.

6. A lock comprising a casing, a shaft Within said casing, a plurality of numbered dials upon said shaft, each of said dials carrying ratchet Wheels of dierent diameter and varying number of teeth, paivls of varying lengths adapted to engage said dials and means for actuating said pavvls upon the operation of the lock.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature.

WILLIAM P. SAVAGE.

Copies of this patent'may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

